Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort and Spa

October 22, 2008 on 11:32 am | In Baja, Beachbooker, Cabo, Mexico, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Spa Resorts | Comments Off

from $130 USD

Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort and Spa, a Luxury hotel in Cabo San Lucas is located within walking distance of Puerto Paraiso and Marina Los Cabos and offers a kids club, business center, swimmable beach and balconies with views of the ocean.

Nightfall, the Lounge Bar ‘B’ comes to life with luscious libations and appetizing edibles. The 12 Tribes Restaurant offers a delicious mix of aromas and flavors from around the world. Maydan is a beach club and oceanfront restaurant located in the heart of Medano Beach, yielding the property’s most incredible views of the Cabo San Lucas Bay. In addition, enjoy the swim-up bars, fire pits, and 24-hour room service. Golf, scuba diving, spa services, adventure tours, and more are available at the concierge desk.

All one-, two- and three-bedroom suites and magnificent penthouses, ranging from 920 to 4,500 square feet, embody world-class style and relaxation featuring private terraces, stunning ocean views, Jacuzzi-equipped marble bathrooms, and upscale furnishings by celebrated designer Adriana Hoyos.

Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa


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Features
Luxury Resort

Kitchenette Dining

Hot tub
Dry cleaning
Wheel chair access
Free high speed internet Data port
Meeting room
Swimming pool
Fitness facility
Car rental desk

Pleasant Holidays Offers Mexico Savings

October 22, 2008 on 7:00 am | In Airlines, Baja, Cabo, Cancun Cozumel Yucatan, Mexico | Comments Off

BeachBooker Beach VillasPleasant Holidays and its affiliate company Distinguished Resorts are featuring savings of up to $550 per booking — which incorporates an exclusive $200 air credit, an early booking bonus and daily buffet breakfast — with five-night stays at participating Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts in Mexico between Oct. 6, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2009. Travel agents can earn up to $50 with each booking made at participating Fiesta Americana properties with bookings made between Sept. 1 and Dec. 15. The offer can be combined with all other Fiesta Americana promotions, including the kids 12 and younger stay, play and eat free offer. Reservations must be made by Oct. 19 to qualify.

Five-night vacation packages, including round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations, begin at $959 per person from San Francisco, $975 from Los Angeles, $989 from New York City (JFK), $995 from Dallas/Ft. Worth, $999 from Phoenix, $1,005 from Houston, $1,009 from Portland, $1,045 from Seattle, $1,049 from Chicago and $1,125 from Atlanta. Rates are based on double occupancy and include round-trip airfare, accommodations, all hotel taxes and surcharges, and on-site assistance from Pleasant Holidays’ customer service representatives. Vacations featuring air from other departure cities nationwide are also available. Participating Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts include Aqua Cancun, Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun, Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun, Fiesta Americana Grand Los Cabos, Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta, Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort and Fiesta Americana Villas Acapulco. For more information, call 800-448-3333 or visit www.PleasantAgent.com.

Marquis Los Cabos Food, Wine & Tequila Getaway

October 20, 2008 on 8:08 am | In Baja, Beachbooker, Cabo, Golf Resorts, Hotels, Mexico, Sailing, Spa Resorts | Comments Off

Click Here for Your BEACH GEARMarquis Los Cabos’ Blue Cabo Food, Wine and Tequila Getaway, hosted by leading food and wine expert Anthony Dias Blue, will take place from Dec. 11 to 14, 2008. The three-night “Blue Cabo” is $495 per night, per person, and includes suite accommodations at Marquis Los Cabos, breakfast daily, one massage per person, round-trip airport/hotel transportation and four singular dining experiences.

For more information or reservations, call 877-238-9399 or visit www.marquisloscabos.com

Book Your Beach Resort at a Discount

Five Of The Best Global Cocktails

October 20, 2008 on 7:36 am | In Baja, Beachbooker, Cabo, California, Caribbean, Los Angeles, Mexico, Night Clubs, San Diego, San Francisco, St. Lucia | Comments Off

In all the bars in the world, there are so many amazing bar tenders and quirky cocktails available. Here we have put together five of the best to wet your appetite. Chin chin!

The Landings Affair

The Landings St Lucia, a luxurious five-star RockResorts property, is offering guests The Landings Affair! Situated on 19 spectacular beachfront acres on Rodney Bay, near the northern tip of St Lucia, there is no better way to relax than with this delicious cocktail.

Guests can chill out in The Yacht Haven Restaurant, with spectacular views over the azure blue Caribbean Sea, listening to tunes from a local steel drum band, while sipping The Landings Affair. Influenced by Caribbean ingredients, including blue cuacao, kokonut rum, crystal rum, pineapple juice and orange juice, the contents are shaken together and served in a coconut shell and garnished with a hibiscus flower.

The Gangster Moll

The Purple Palm at the Colony Palms Hotel, in Palm Springs Desert Resorts, was originally the fabled underworld den where nefarious enterprises were conducted by Detroit mobster Al Wertheimer of the notorious Purple Gang during the 1930s Prohibition era, (hence the name of the Purple Palm Restaurant).

The Colony Palms Hotel has recently undergone a USD16 million* (GBP 9,117,660) refurbishment and been resurrected to its vintage Hollywood glam, spun with Spanish and Moroccan influences, and is a glamorous yet understated boutique of 21st century cool with a hip new dining spot – the Purple Palm Restaurant

The Gangster Moll - created with Champagne and St Germain, and garnished with a strawberry - is served to guests luxuriating at the outdoor bar, where the view of the pool is framed by gorgeous mountain vistas, and captivates with the sheer sensuality of the setting that originally attracted Wertheimer and his cohorts.

Hole in One


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Around the globe, the Fairmont name is associated with some of the world’s most thrilling golf experiences. In the Scottish countryside, the Fairmont St Andrews offers guests the toughest challenge on the course and the finest reward to celebrate the great game – the Hole in One!

The 17th Hole at the Kittocks course, Fairmont St Andrews, is renowned for being a mischievous diablo that starts with a blind tee shot and doesn’t get any easier, forcing golfers to keep their wits about them. With breathtaking views over the sea and golden beaches of St Andrews, the course lays out devilish challenges such as unseen trouble spots and deep bunkers. Inspired by The Devlin’s infamous signature hole, the Hole is One serves up Glenmorangie, one of Scotland’s finest single-malt Scotches, ‘on the rocks’ (golf balls made of ice) and is the ideal end to a hair-raising round!

Veronica’s Margarita

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort in Los Cabos, at the tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, is serving Veronica’s Margarita at its Tequila & Ceviche bar. Named after the talented member of staff who created the cocktail concoction, Veronica’s Margarita is made using the Nopal cactus - an incredible plant, native to the Baja region – and tequila.

Natives of the region have long used the Nopal cactus, as early Baja healers knew it was a bountiful plant with terrific medicinal qualities. They can be found in Latin food markets throughout Mexico. The Nopal cactus contains 17 amino acids, eight of which are essential in the human diet, fibre, minerals, and vitamins. Nopal can also help control obesity by preventing fat build-up and diminishing cellulite and fluid retention, not to mention it gives an energy boost and elevates your mood and helps detoxify the liver and the body in general.

The other key ingredient in Veronica’s Margarita is tequila. Made from the Blue Agave plant, tequila is native to Mexico and the favourite drink of the country.

High Tea Martini

The Hotel Shangri-La will be serving up the sumptuous High Tea Martini cocktail to guests, created using the ingredients; Bombay Sapphire Gin, Earl Grey Tea, Cointreau and Dundee Marmalade.

The word Shangri-La suggests the imagery of exoticism in the Orient. Hotel Shangri-La, the iconic hotel in Santa Monica, introduces its signature drink, a High Tea Martini that evokes the sights, smells and tastes of the mythical Shangri-La with its combination of Eastern and British ingredients and flavours. The High Tea Martini also complements the nostalgic tone and atmosphere that the Hotel Shangri-La embodies. Guests can feel as if they are visiting the fictional earthly paradise when sipping this orange-hued drink while gazing at a stunning sunset at the Hotel Shangri-La’s rooftop bar, Suite 700, overlooking the picturesque Pacific Ocean.

Country Walkers Adult Education Programs for 2009

October 17, 2008 on 7:53 am | In Adventure Travel, Africa, Argentina, Asia, Baja, Cabinweb, Cabo, Canada, Chile, Egypt, Mexico, Nepal, Outdoors, South America | Comments Off


Country Walkers, a small-group walking tour provider, is offer many adult education opportunities on its 2009 adventures. Here are some examples: Egypt — The Legendary Nile à la Carte:

Country Walkers’ 10-day land and river excursion through Egypt explores the heart of Cairo, the Pyramids of Giza, Luxor Valley and the Nile in the company of an eloquent and expert Egyptologist.

 The package is priced from $6,598 per person.

Nepal — Annapurnas & Chitwan Safari à la Carte: A 10-day journey that visits shrines, Buddhist temples and Royal Chitwan National Park, a wildlife sanctuary where endangered species of elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, monkeys, and a myriad of birds are protected.

The package is priced from $3,998 per person.

Mexico — The Real Baja à la Carte: Journey deep to discover Baja, Mexico’s unique history on this seven-day adventure – now available à la carte for guests who want to customize their experience with more cultural options. Walk the Sea of Cortez, explore ranchero life, and enjoy Pacific Coast beaches by horseback.

The package is priced from $3,198 per person.

Panama — The Canal, Highlands & Islands à la Carte: Now available à la carte, this eight-day tour is a journey of wonder and discovery. Take walks in varied ecosystems, including rainforests and volcanic hills, snorkel among coral reefs, and identify exotic wildlife in the Chiriqui highlands.

The package is priced from $3,298 per person.

For more information, call 800-464-WALK (9255) or visit www.countrywalkers.com


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Head To Mexico for Horseback Riding Adventures

October 16, 2008 on 9:50 am | In Adventure Travel, Baja, Cabinweb, Cabo, Cancun Cozumel Yucatan, London, Mexico, Outdoors, Scotland, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off


Ride well-trained horses through spectacular Mexican scenery along trails, paths, dirt roads and old ‘Caminos Reales’, relax in a luxurious hacienda and witness the natural spectacle of millions of Monarch Butterflies gathering to over winter (end of October). Equine Adventures’ 8-day Cabalgatas la Sierra horseback adventure departs Mexico City throughout October and November 2008.

The colonial town of Valle de Bravo, located on the shore of Lake Avándaro, is surrounded by evergreen forest, meadows, valleys, rivers and streams offering horse and rider an incredible variety of terrain. Discover ‘old’ Mexican countryside and traditions while riding fit and well-trained horses along the ‘cabalgatas la sierra’ routes traversing the Sierra Madre Mountains. From the village of Los Saucos, ride to the valley of the butterflies to see millions of Monarch Butterflies congregating and weighing down tree branches after their migration from Canada and the USA.


woman in cowboy hat
Rides are based at the traditional five-star Finca Enyhe, for 7-nights, located on the outskirts of Valle de Bravo offering all the benefits of both town and country. The hacienda is set around a central courtyard with a beautiful established garden separating the house from the traditional stalls and riding arena.

After exhilarating rides, the hacienda’s grooms and wranglers un-tack and clean the horses, so you can slip on your sombrero and relax in one of the many shady hammocks strung from the veranda, or head for the outdoor Jacuzzi with a chilled ‘Margarita’! For time out of the saddle, take a wander along the narrow cobbled streets of Valle de Bravo, through its central plaza, exploring the food markets, bars and restaurants and searching out souvenirs in the art galleries and craft shops. Alternatively, enjoy a boat trip on the lake, visit El Pino park, home of a 695-year old Cyprus, or experience the 115ft Velo de Novia’s waterfall.

The holiday costs £1,440 p/p (ride only) including return transfers from Mexico City, 5-star hacienda accommodation, most meals, wine with evening meal, horse, tack and expertly guided activities. Flights are not included but are available through Equine Adventures.

Get Your Sports Gear HereEquine Adventures
0845 130 6981
sales@equineadventures.co.uk
www.equineadventures.co.uk

Villa Del Palmar Resort And Spa from $99 USD

October 15, 2008 on 1:01 pm | In Baja, Beachbooker, Cabo, Golf Resorts, Mexico, Sailing, Scuba Diving, Spa Resorts, Spring Break, Surfing Resorts, Tennis | Comments Off

Get Your Sailing Gear HereLocated on El Medano beach, with views of Los Cabos’ famous landmark El Arco, Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa is approximately a 20-minute walk from downtown Cabo San Lucas and a 30-minute drive from Gustavo Diaz Ordaz Airport.

Villa del Palmar Beach Resort and Spa has recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation on all accommodations and public areas. In order to increase the comfort of each guest, rooms have been updated with new bedding, including new mattresses and furniture and other decorative items have been updated to reveal a fresher, modern look and feel. In addition to comfort, practical updates include new kitchen and bathroom counters and furniture and pay per view movies and wireless internet access have been added. Among the extensive renovations in public areas, the free form swimming pool has been resurfaced, hundreds of brand new poolside lounge chairs and umbrellas have been added, the mini golf course has had a facelift, and each restaurant has been renovated.

The nine-story atrium lobby houses waterfalls, saltwater aquarium, and seashell chandeliers. Attendants provide service on the private beach and by the beachfront pool area, which has three tiered pools, hot tubs, kids’ pool, and a whale waterslide. For more entertainment, there are nightly theme parties, tennis courts, tours, a nine-hole golf course, fitness center, kids’ club, and 10,000-square-foot European-style health spa (extra fee). For dining, there are two restaurants, a cafe, bar, and room service. The resort also has a grocery store, pharmacy, video store, boutique, and laundry facilities.

All suites have satellite TV, central air, ceiling fans, clock radios, purified drinking water, dining tables, and kitchenettes with refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, coffeemakers, and two burners.

Please note that this property offers both all-inclusive and room only categories. Please choose the appropriate all-inclusive room category if you want all meals included.

Villa Del Palmar Resort And Spa Features

Car rental desk

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Spa
Conventions
Resort
Business center
First class
Dry cleaning
Nonsmoking
Meeting room
Dining
Wheel chair access
Tennis court
Swimming pool
Golf
Fitness facility
Meals
Family rooms

Website: www.res99.com/hotel/deals/10022158/152/los_cabos_hotels.html

25% Off Overland Expeditions To South America

October 15, 2008 on 9:28 am | In Adventure Travel, Argentina, Baja, Brazil, Cabo, Cancun Cozumel Yucatan, London, Mexico, Peru, Road Trips, Scotland, South America, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off


Tucan Travel is offering a 25% discount off the tour price of any Overland Expeditions tours in South America booked by 31 October 2008. Overland Expeditions are specially designed for travellers looking for an active outdoor adventure. Travelling on Tucan Travel’s own custom-designed Mercedes Benz overland vehicles built for safety and comfort, these hotels and camping tours offer an affordable and exciting way to see the highlights and hidden delights of South America.

Book the Sumac Tour – Make Fantastic Savings and Join Rio Carnival!

Tucan Travel’s Sumac tour is an incredible 63 day journey from Quito to Rio de Janeiro, combining all the major sights of the Inca Empire as well as the chance to see cultures pre-dating the Incas. Visiting Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, the tour follows the Pacific coastline before passing down through the Andes to the Atlantic coast. This popular Overland Expedition encompasses mountains, jungles, deserts, waterfalls and vast farmlands and offers a great insight into South America’s cultural and natural diversity.

Do you want to experience the world’s biggest party at Rio Carnival in 2009? Book the 20 December departure and you’ll arrive in Rio de Janeiro on 20 February 2009, just in time the beginning of carnival! For further information about our separate 4 day Rio Carnival package, visit our website or talk to our reservations team on +44 (0)20 8896 1600.

‘Sumac’ tour price including 25% discount: £1312.50 plus Local Payment USD1400 (land only).


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What’s Included:

Accommodation: 62 nights - hotels, 35% camping (most equipment provided)

Meals: Lunches when travelling on the Tucan vehicle, most meals while camping

Excursions: Ingapirca, Lambayeque Museum, Chan Chán, Pyramids of Sun & Moon, Sechín, Paramonga, Ballestas Islands, Chauchilla Cemetery, Puerto Inca, Colca Canyon, Sacred Valley, most site entrance fees in Cuzco area and Sacred Valley, Inca Trail Trek (permit not included), Machu Picchu, Uros / Amantaní / Taquile Islands, Salar de Uyuni, Manantial NP, Iguazu Falls, Bird Park.

Transport: Tucan Travel overland vehicle, boat, 4WD, on foot.

Group: Average 15 – 24, max 34.

Age: Recommended 18 – 45, recommended max 55.

Staff: Tucan Travel tour leader, Tucan Travel driver, local guides.
International flights are not included.

For bookings and more information, contact:

Tucan Travel reservations

020 8896 1600

uksales@tucantravel.com

Hilton Los Cabos Gourmet Getaways

October 11, 2008 on 8:12 am | In Baja, Beachbooker, Cabo, Mexico, Spa Resorts | Comments Off

New at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort is the Tequila & Wine Connoisseur package. Available until Dec. 20, 2008, guests can enjoy a one-hour private tasting session to explore wines and tequila found throughout Mexico. Also included in this package is a wine and cheese sampling platter, which will greet guests upon arrival. This cultural experience is available starting at $897 for three nights based on double occupancy. For more information, visit www.hiltonloscabos.com

HYATT PURE SPAS

October 7, 2008 on 11:54 am | In Asia, Cabo, California, Cancun Cozumel Yucatan, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, San Diego, Spa Resorts, Taiwan, Thailand | Comments Off


Spa Gift Certificates - Valid at thousands of spas
PRESENT CULTURALLY-INSPIRED SPA CONCEPTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

- More than 70 spas worldwide offer concepts derived from local
and traditional healing practices -

Hyatt Pure from Hyatt Hotels & Resorts offers an unparalleled worldwide collection of spa concepts. While each spa is founded on the same Four Pillar Philosophy – guest-centricity, cultural sensitivity, authenticity, and zero-based concepts – each facility offers a unique experience, founded on distinctive, culturally-inspired practices such as traditional Chinese medicine or the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda. With a standout portfolio of more than 70 spas globally – ranging from urban, to resort, to residential (a concept pioneered by Hyatt) – Hyatt Pure is one of the most highly-acclaimed hotel spa operators in the world.

“Hyatt Pure is an authentic collection; the philosophy and concepts created for each spa do not play into market trends, but rather center around the history and practices of each spa’s cultural roots,” says Gordon Tareta, Vice President of Spa Operations for Global Hyatt Corporation. “Each Hyatt Pure spa is created on the basis of both meticulous local research and contemporary knowledge, and is developed around Hyatt Pure’s Four Pillar Philosophy. Through this approach, we promise that each spa will provide a guest experience that can’t be replicated anywhere else.”

Below is a list of standout concepts that underscore the Four Pillar Philosophy of Hyatt Pure:

Retox/Detox – Spa Esencia at Hyatt Regency Trinidad; Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Inspired by the beauty of Trinidad & Tobago’s colorful island environment in the Caribbean, the new Spa Escencia, launched in March 2008, utilizes a series of organic and natural spa products created from local ingredients in its signature treatments. Pure cocoa, from an agricultural estate in Lopinot, a rural area to the east of Trinidad, is roasted and infused with oils and spices, then modified into granulated cocoa nibs and melted down for the spa’s signature Cocoa Bean Body Wrap. Spa Esencia also converts residual granules remaining at the end of organic coconut oil processing into a coconut exfoliation, which is used in the Golden Coconut Body Scrub. This treatment softens, moisturizes, and protects skin from the sun, while leaving it lightly fragranced and protected against premature aging. Cocoa Bean Body Wrap: 60 minutes; USD$125 / Golden Coconut Body Scrub: 60 minutes; USD$115.

Dead Sea Muds and SaltsEco Spa – Blue Marble Spa at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina; San Diego, California

Hyatt’s first eco-friendly spa debuted in 2007 and offers treatments with either all-natural or fully organic skincare products, as well as organic fruit and food options that can be enjoyed in a private earth garden. The spa also incorporates a range of conservation practices, including energy-efficient lighting, sustainable bamboo floors, low-flow shower heads, recycled paper, eco-friendly cleaning products, and a digital-format treatment menu. Blue Marble’s Manicure and Pedicure rituals combine native California sea salts, bamboo, and organic flax seeds for a sustainable treatment performed with locally grown ingredients. Manicure ritual: 45 minutes; USD$55 / Pedicure ritual: 60 minutes; USD$75.


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Balinese Personal Journeys – Kriya Spa at Grand Hyatt Bali; Bali, Indonesia

Kriya Spa celebrates authentic Balinese healing with wellness rituals that draw from traditional Jamu herbalism and Hindu Ayurvedic philosophies to promote positive health and anti-aging. The spa’s signature Shakti Kriya ritual is specially designed for guests with chronic fatigue or poor circulation. The series begins with a traditional Balinese Boreh (body wrap) of native clove, coconut, cinnamon and ginger root, followed by a Bali Pijat Cokor — a traditional form of deep herbal massage that uses the therapist’s palms and feet on energy lines and pressure points. The treatment ends with a Mineral Salts and Herbs Hydro Soak. Shakti Kriya: 2.5 hours; USD$220.

Traditional Chinese Medicine - Yuan Spa at Hyatt on the Bund; Shanghai, China

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the philosophy that health can be maintained by balancing the body’s interconnected systems. Of special importance, chi energy circulates within the body through natural channels called meridians. Traditional Chinese medicine seeks to relieve certain imbalances by adjusting chi circulation through a variety of therapeutic techniques. Based on these principles, Yuan Spa at Hyatt on the Bund in Shanghai offers a signature Yuan Infusion Treatment, through which traditional Yuan massage and Chinese herbal compresses are used to elevate immunity, clear blocked chi, and eliminate toxins. Yuan Infusion: 90 minutes, USD$170.

Ayurveda – Sereno Spa at Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa; South Goa, India

Get Your Yoga DVDs hereAyurveda, or the “Science of Life,” is a scientific system of medicine based on ancient Indian philosophies. Ayurveda doctors receive their Medical Degree after five-and-a-half years of intensive study. At Sereno Spa, treatments are designed by a team of Ayurveda doctors specializing in Holistic Medicine and Yoga. The spa’s signature Soundarya Ksheeradhara treatment includes a luxurious milk bath, followed by a gentle scrub incorporating special herbs to improve skin’s texture and turmeric for exfoliation. The scrub is followed by pouring warm herb and “saffron-infused” milk over the body using gentle rhythmic massage movements that nourish and detoxify the skin. Soundarya Ksheeradhara: 90 minutes, USD$211.

Traditional Thai Healing – The Barai Spa at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin; Hua Hin, Thailand


Traditional Thai Healing is based on the belief that health and vitality can be maintained through the balance of the four elements — Water, Earth, Air and Fire. Through intensive research at schools and hospitals, The Barai Spa has developed a therapy menu designed around each of these elements, which can be enjoyed in one of the spa’s 18 treatment rooms or eight exclusive residential spa suites. With The Barai’s signature Custom Thai Herbal Compress, a richly aromatic blend of indigenous Thai herbs is bundled into a compress and steamed, then used to roll over, knead and gently pound the muscles for a unique form of traditional Thai massage. Custom Thai Herbal Compress: 90 minutes; USD$106.

Traditional Japanese Onsen – Izumi Spa & Onsen at Hyatt Regency Hakone; Hakone, Japan


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Japanese onsen are 77-degree-plus Fahrenheit natural springs that contain any of 19 minerals specified by the country’s onsen law, enacted in 1948. Onsen bathing is believed to treat a range of ailments including neurological pain, arthritic pain, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, dermatitis and arteriosclerosis. Along with the healing waters of its Owakudani Onsen (hot spring), Izumi Spa is founded on the four phases of the moon and the healing plants and minerals indigenous to the Hakone region, near Tokyo. Each spa guest is encouraged to soak in the onsen prior to treatments in order to alleviate tension, balance the nervous system, exfoliate skin, and detoxify through perspiration. A series of Izumi onsen rituals guide the use of the bath’s therapeutic benefits. Rituals include Agariyu (post-onsen­ removal of excess minerals and dead skin following natural sulfate exfoliation). *Izumi Spa treatment prices vary and are available upon request.

Korean Scrub – The Spa at Grand Hyatt Seoul; Seoul, South Korea

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In traditional bathing practice, Koreans use a coarse towel or mitt to scrub away dead skin cells and dirt, while enjoying the social and friendly setting of one of Korea’s 100,000-plus public bathhouses. Adapting the social nature of these bathhouses into a modern, more private experience, the Korean Ginseng Scrub treatment at The Spa at Grand Hyatt Seoul incorporates the healing properties of Korean ginseng root, which has antioxidant properties and rich nutrients that invigorate physical power, regulate the spleen and relax heart stress (according to Zhongcao Yaoxue or the Chinese herbal pharmacy). Following 20-30 minutes of sauna and steam to prepare the skin, a full-body scrub with Korean Ginseng Powder and Ginseng Milk is administered with a specially designed mitt to exfoliate, smooth and hydrate the skin. Korean Ginseng Scrub: 60 minutes; USD$135 / 90 minutes: USD$170.

Tamayame Rituals – The Tamaya Mist Spa at Hyatt Regency

Tamaya Resort & Spa; Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico


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Inspired by the journey of the Tamayame people that settled the pueblo of Tamaya one thousand years ago, Tamaya Mist Spa in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico offers full-day “Journeys” designed to Detoxify, Exfoliate, Hydrate, or Restore. One example is the day-long Kwiiste Puu journey, which starts with an Ancient Drumming treatment. Followed by an application of mud from the Jemez Mountains and infused with New Mexico red chile for a highly detoxifying masque, therapists gently drum away stress with flaxseed-filled muslin bags dipped in piñon-scented oil. Afterwards, the skin is drenched with warm oil and lightly exfoliated using an aromatic Piñon Resin Scrub. Kwiiste Puu journey: 5 hours; USD$463.50.

Russian Banyan – Grand Hyatt Moscow Residences & Spa; Moscow, Russia


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A fusion of the traditional Turkish Hammam and the Swedish sauna, Russian Banyans bring together the best of both. Set up as a sauna, the temperature is kept at a low 60 degrees and attendants routinely douse its coals with water to create invigorating vapor. Three times during the session, attendants apply honey on the guest, place symbolic wet Banyan leaves on their heads, and then gently strike the skin with branches to stimulate circulation. The spa at the forthcoming Grand Hyatt Moscow Residences & Spa is set to open in December 2008, and will be located on the 60th and 61st floors, affording 360-degree views of the city. In addition to a Banyan sauna, the spa will feature seven large spa suites, a fully equipped fitness center and swimming pool. *Treatment list and prices NA. www.hyattpure.com

 

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